Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s office, in conjunction with several other law enforcement entities, ran a child sex sting operation to catch predators between July 27 and August 1.
Dubbed “Operation Child Protector,” law enforcement posed as 13 and 14-year-old girls online and made contact with several suspects online. When the suspects attempted to meet up with the “girls,” they were taken into custody.
In all, 17 suspects were arrested in the operation. Three of them are employees of Walt Disney World in Orlando, meaning they had regular access to children visiting the popular family vacation destination.
One of the arrestees was 26-year-old Kenneth Javier Aquino of Orlando.
He reportedly told detectives he was a lifeguard at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Walt Disney World, and showed up to meet the “underage girl” wearing his Disney uniform. He faces one count of traveling to meet a minor for sex, one count of attempted lewd battery, and one count of transmission of material harmful to a minor after he allegedly sent an explicit video of himself to the undercover officers. All three charges are felonies.
Two more Disney World employees, both custodians, were also arrested during the sting. The pair, a couple, are 29-year-old Savannah Lawrence of Kissimmee and 34-year-old Jonathan McGrew.
McGrew, communicating with an undercover officer whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl, told the officer he and his girlfriend wanted to meet up for sex. He allegedly sent the undercover officer videos of him and his girlfriend engaging in sexual activity.
McGrew was charged with one count of traveling to meet a minor for sex, two counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor, and one count of attempted lewd battery.
Lawrence was charged with one count of traveling to meet a minor for sex and one count of attempted lewd battery.
All charges levied against both Lawrence and McGrew are felonies.
Among the 17 other arrests, suspects were charged with 49 felonies and two misdemeanors.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
